The minutes of the March 10, 2005, meeting were approved as distributed.

III. Reports.

Speaking about the budget, Chancellor Hastad told senators, that in
addition to the Governor’s directive for UW System to reallocate $35M over the
biennium by cutting 200 administrative positions, the Governor has also directed
System to reallocate $30M through enterprise savings including restructuring of
state procurement contracts and improving asset management. The enterprise
savings ideas will affect how we interact on campus, specifically with respect
to travel and is probably a signal for other down initiatives the road.

Provost/Vice-Chancellor Hitch – 2 items are information items.
On PVC agenda tomorrow is communication contract which is a done deal with
provisions for network. Again another enterprise savings – issues result
from each of these. It’s the beginning of a wave of attempts to centralize
things.

North Central Accreditation Update. Dorothy Zeisler-Vralsted
made a pitch for NCA and the process of the self-study as a venue or place to
voice concerns. Criterion allows us to be introspective as a university.
She encouraged senators to get involved in the process. The May 5th
forum will address Strengths and Areas in Need of Improvements in the
University. Criterion #3 involves Student Learning and Effective
Teaching. Strengths are #1 assessment (80% participating departments.)
and innovative teaching methods. Weaknesses – even though we have
assessment – feedback remains a problem. Evaluations of effective teaching
relies too heavy on SEI.

Kathy Keifer, Interim Director of Admissions, reported that fall 2005
numbers are right on target with respect to freshmen and transfers. For
non-residents we are up in number of applications as well as acceptances –
looking similar to last year with deposits. Registrar, Diane Schumacher,
commented that registration for fall semester just started so it is too early to
tell about continuing students. The summer session assigned registration
period ended last Friday – 250 headcount behind where we were for summer a year
ago at this time (require $100 deposit is the first time that has been in effect
– so we don’t know if summer is really down or it is the money issue).
Summer target is 11,984 SCH and we are at 4300 SCH as of last Friday; 6000 as of
today. Last year ended up at 10,584; have tried doing more promotion for
summer session.

Concern was expressed about lack of resident halls. If we meet our
targets what does it mean for our budgets? Depends on the target you are
talking about. Non-residence big impact on revenue.

Faculty Representatives met on April 1st
where UWL Representative, Joe Heim distributed copies of the resolution
indicating that UWS does not appear to be taking proportional cuts.
Several of the other representatives took additional information regarding this
concern. The agenda included discussion on SEIs and the issue of privacy
vs access on individual campuses. Privacy seems to be outweighing.
Reps also learned that System will be providing more advice with respect to
undergraduate admissions policies. Other items were universal designs (Americans
with Disability Acts); who has control over distance education; collective
bargaining; budget issues; Dept of Administration is moving ahead with
centralizing travel plans – expect to be done deal by August; Food contracts
likely to handled by one State-wide contract.

Chancellor Hastad had some good news – Physical Facilities and Planning
reaffirmed priority for building projects 05-07. Four projects will be moved
forward including UWL. Hastad publicly thanked Senator Heim for the work
he has done in Madison on this project.

IV. Chancellor’s Budget Reduction Decisions.

The SEC offered the following motion for consideration: That the
Faculty Senate establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the implications for
faculty and academic programs of the chancellor’s recent administrative budget
cuts relative to UW-L’s policy on university re-organization. The
committee is to present a report on its findings to the Faculty Senate in early
fall 2005.

(The details involving size, representation, charge, and timeline will be
worked out by the SEC.)

What would be possible outcomes? Identify curricular issues and how
they might be resolved; review structure and feasibility. EESHR will have
representation on college structure – probably operate with two committees in
SAH (college core or departmental requirements , new bylaws, size of committee),
expect a single recommendation from committee.

Membership of the committee shall consist of nine
faculty members, one of whom shall be the chairperson of the library department,
and three students, one of whom shall be a graduate student. The faculty
membership shall include at least one representative from each of the following
academic units: the College of Liberal Studies, the College of Science and
Allied Health, the College of Business Administration, and the College of
Education, Exercise Science, Health and Recreation. Consecutive
appointments may be allowed for up to five years: however, at least three
faculty members shall be newly appointed each year. The director of the
library shall serve as an administrative consultant to the committee. The
committee shall elect its chairperson.

M/S/P to approve. (unanimous show of hands)

B. Budget Review Committee

Duties and responsibilities of the committee shall include:

1. Study and report to the Senate on university budget decisions
that affect instruction and research.

2. Review annual budgets and report to the Senate on trends in
support for instruction.

Membership of the committee will consist of five faculty members, one
of whom will be the Vice-Chair of the Faculty Senate, to be appointed by the
Senate. Consecutive appointments may be allowed for up to five years
the seven faculty representatives constituting the faculty membership of the
Joint Planning and Budget Committee. The committee will respond to direct
charges from the Faculty Senate but will also be free to determine its own scope
of study and review. The committee will aim for maximum coordination with
the University Joint Planning & Budget Committee. The committee
shall elect its chairperson.

M/S/P to approve. (unanimous show of hands)

C. Teacher Education Governing Council

Duties and
Responsibilities of the committee shall include:

Developing and reviewing policies on issues
affecting teacher education programs including overall program philosophy
and framework, and unit assessment.

Reviewing, in consultation with departments or
colleges, proposals for new teacher education programs or changes in current
teacher education programs, and forwarding recommendations to the
appropriate curriculum committee.

Monitoring and maintaining the Strategic Plan for
the School of Teacher Education.

Providing advice to the Director of the School of
Education.

Serving as an advocate for teacher education on
campus and in the community.

Reviewing accreditation and program approval
reports for teacher education programs.

Voting membership of
the committee shall consist of the Director of the School of Education, nine
faculty members, one teacher education student chosen by the Student Senate, and
three professional educators from outside the university chosen by the
Director of the School of Education and approved by the Teacher Education
Governing Council. The faculty membership shall include:

a.one representative from each of the four
professional education programs in the College of
Education, Exercise Science, Health and Recreation (CEESHR). The professional
programs are Early Childhood/Elementary/Middle Level Education, Middle
Level/Secondary Education, Physical Education Teacher Education, and School
Health Education.

b.one representative from a CEESHR
graduate program leading to certification.

c.four representatives with teaching or
advising responsibility for teacher education in their discipline from the
College of Liberal Studies, the College of Science and Allied Health, or
the College of Business Administration.

The Director of General
Education, the Assistant to the Director of the School of Education,
the Director of Student Teaching/Internships, and the Assistant to the Dean of
CEESHR shall serve as administrative consultants to the committee. The committee
shall elect its chair. The Director of the School of Education shall serve as
convener. Terms of membership shall be three years, staggered so that three
members retire and are replaced every year. A committee member shall abstain
from voting on the approval of any policy or programmatic proposal if the
committee member or the committee determines that the proposal presents a
conflict of interest for the committee member.

M/S/P to approve. (unanimous show of hands)

VI. General Education Committee Report

Emily Johnson joined senate and reported on assessment activities conducted
over the past several years and on the course reviews and faculty forum
conducted this year. The sense is that we have reached a turning point.
General education is on the radar screen of most people, there is interest in
the program and in making improvements in the program.

Dr. Johnson reviewed the General Education Committee’s commitment to program
quality and improvement, listed below:

We are committed to:

1.Working cooperatively with Faculty
Senate in the process of review and revision of General Education as per the
Faculty Senate By-Laws.

2.Working cooperatively with Faculty
Senate and the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee to create an understanding of
the learning outcomes expected of UW-L graduates. GEC welcomes a joint
meeting of members of the three bodies to discuss UW-L’s vision for its
graduates as found in the Strategic Plan, and the role that both the General
Education Program and the student’s major and minor should play in achieving
this vision.

3.An outcome-guided General Education Program that reflects a broad-based
liberal education.

4.Asking Faculty Senate
to approve a revised set of learning outcomes as a living document that will be
routinely evaluated and revised as needed, and used to guide assessment
activities.

5.Changing the name of the program from General Education to University
Core Curriculum.

6.Continued use of the “Human Rights” theme for at least another year as a
means of helping students make connections across disciplines. The effectiveness
of using this theme will be assessed.

7.Development of an assessment plan that allows for ongoing and systematic
assessment of all aspects of the General Education Program.

8.Creating a diverse General Education design team that will work during
the summer 2005 to identify effective strategies and areas for program
improvement and have ready in early fall specific recommendations for program
improvement.

9.Exploring ways to make the program more flexible and connected, while
maintaining assurance that learning outcomes will be met.

10.Developing a manageable course review and revision process that includes
timelines and processes for course recertification.

11.Ongoing professional development for and among General Education faculty
and staff.

12.A General Education design that reflects these commitments

The Faculty Senate received the report. Senator Cravins complimented the
committee for a fine report – impressed with seriousness of task.